BUSINESS AS USUAL: Stan Meers, 90, runs his own business at Sunshine Coast Airport and plays golf two days a week. He is among a growing number of people over 65 who own businesses and show no signs of slowing down.Warren Lynam

Working at 90: The rise of the 'greypreneurs'

Bill HoffmanWhether taking on developers hell-bent on destroying the Coast’s natural appeal or a Prime Minister indifferent to the plight of the poor, Bill Hoffman has never been one to mince his words. Bill’s been a journalist for 32 years, 29 of those on the Coast. Love him or hate him, he'll get you blogging.

NEW research may suggest that grey nomads are turning off the road and becoming "greypreneurs".

The Bankwest Business Trends Report, part of the Bankwest Financial Indicator Series, has revealed a 6.6% spike in business ownership among those aged 65 and older - accounting for 7400 additional businesses over the past year.

There are now about 118,900 businesses owned by those of retirement age.

But for one of the Coast's most elderly self-employed, it's always been business as usual with no thought for a caravan and an open road.

Stan Meers is small of stature, sharp of eye and full of go. What makes that remarkable is that he is 90.

Reader poll

Is working till we're 90 a new freedom or a trap?

This poll ended on 14 June 2016.

Current Results

It's great! Old age isn't what it used to be.

40%

Good to know it's possible.

17%

Can I not?

6%

We won't have a choice. Thanks economy.

35%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

He also still works four days a week in his own business as an aircraft instrument technician using skills he learned during the Second World War and plays 18 holes of golf twice a week at the Headland Golf Club.

Just back from a 15-day golfing holiday in the United States where he played Pebble Beach, Palm Beach, Spyglass Hill, Palm Springs, San Diego and San Francisco, Stan is inundated with work from around Australia. Packages of parts needing repair arrive from places as far flung as Katherine in the Northern Territory, Townsville, Sydney and Swan Hill.

What's he still doing working?

"It gives me something to do,'' Stan says of his business Wilmor Accessories which sells and services aircraft instruments.

"I don't know what I'd do otherwise. You can't play golf every day.''

Raised on a wheat and sheep farm in western NSW, Stan left school at 12 and helped run the place until it was sold.

He joined the Air Force hoping to see action but his lack of schooling meant he could not secure an aircrew position he had hoped for as a gunner.

Instead, he was made a trainee technician learning invaluable skills that to this day allow him to repair, make and calibrate aircraft instruments relied on for their high degree of accuracy and durability.

Much of the equipment he uses to test instruments dates back to that era.

Stan's proved remarkably durable as well. He still works and reads the paper without the need for glasses.

Stan's late wife Joan died in 2009 after 58-and-a-half-years together. The couple married in 1950 after first meeting at Sydney's Trocodero Dance Hall and have two daughters and eight grand-children. He moved from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast and, after paying out his ex-partner, re-opened Wilmor in 1992.

The business maintains a workshop at McDermott Aviation at Sunshine Coast Airport.